Amazing Asians in the Arts: Mickey Bertelsen

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Mickey Bertelsen is a percussionist and Army Musician based in New Brunswick, NJ – but you might have caught her playing at the Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse Live in Concert National Tour or at the New York Giants Drumline. She went on to receive her undergrad at Central Michigan University, Masters at MSU, and Doctorate at Rutgers. Bertelsen loves that music has the capability to heal and and change lives, and that through this profession, she is “afforded many opportunities to travel” doing what she loves. Her advice to young artists? “Be fun to hang around, it's not all business all the time… gigs come by being a dependable person who's fun to work with!” Read on to learn more about Mickey Bertelsen and what makes her an Amazing Asian in the Arts! 

Name:   Mickey Bertelsen

Heritage:   Chinese

Hometown:   Bay City, Michigan

Current City:   New Brunswick, New Jersey

Current project:   Army Musician, Freelance Percussionist

What are some of your favorite credits/projects: 

Percussionist for Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse Live in Concert National Tour and New York Giants Drumline (nickname, G-Line)

Any advice for young people getting into the arts? 

Be fun to hang around, it's not all business all the time. Sure you need to know how to play your instrument, but at the same time, gigs come by being a dependable person who's fun to work with! 

How did you get your start? 

I got my start through Macy Schmidt and the Broadway Sinfonietta! They posted an open call for the Spider-Man tour, I applied, sent in tapes, and I was miraculously offered the tour!

Do you have any favorite moments in your career that you'd like to share? 

I truly have to say that some of my most favorite moments have been in the mountains of Creede, Colorado playing for the theatre there! And also touring around the country with my, now, close friends! 

What have you found is the biggest challenge in your career? 

The biggest challenge in my career has been learning how to be patient and learning that dreams will come true, but probably not in the way you expected things to work out. 

Where did you study at?

Undergraduate: Central Michigan University

Masters: Michigan State University

Doctorate: Rutgers University 

What do you love most about what you do? 

I love the fact that music touches the soul, we are doctors of the heart and that I've been afforded many opportunities to travel to do what I love, so I'd hardly call it work. 

To find out more on Mickey Bertelsen, please visit her at:

Facebook:   Mickey Bertelsen

Instagram:   @mickeyxberts

Website:   https://mickeybertelsen.com/